First Christmas with Doc
Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 3:30, Doc and I arrived at Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. As we stepped out onto the tarmac, so many thoughts went through my mind - about the many people who had passed this way before us. This where the Yemenite Jews of Operation Magic Carpet first arrived. The Ethiopian Jews came here after Operation Moses. And of course the hostages that were rescued at Entebbe came here as well. Such an ancient land - so much history. It's quite invigorating, actually. I picked up one of the little brochures at the airport and was reading about it - did you know that Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey? Of the population of about 6 million, roughly 80% are Jewish, 15% Muslims, 2% are Christians and 1.6% Druze. Over half the Jews are sabas, or native-born Israelis, while the rest come from more than 80 countries.
Doc and I decided that we wanted to spend our Christmas together here in Israel so here we are. After we arrived in Tel Aviv, we took the express train to Haifa - a trip of less than an hour - and then caught a cab for Nazareth. From there we had made arrangements with a friend of Doc's (that man has friends everywhere!) to borrow two donkeys for the next leg of journey - we are riding to Bethlehem! Yes, you heard correctly - Bethlehem. Following in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary so many years ago!
We spent the night on the desert last night - it's amazing how quickly the temperature drops once the sun goes down! And the sunset in the desert is simply incredibly - the most awesome colours appear on the palette in the sky - gradations and shades that I never knew existed. To be able to share it all, experience it all with Doc is simply the most wonderful thing. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love him!
Today we are continuing our journey. We only stopped for a quick meal, so I got out my laptop to update my journal. Doc will probably update after me. I'll write more once we are in Bethlethem, later today I think.
Until then, shalom to everyone.
Doc and I decided that we wanted to spend our Christmas together here in Israel so here we are. After we arrived in Tel Aviv, we took the express train to Haifa - a trip of less than an hour - and then caught a cab for Nazareth. From there we had made arrangements with a friend of Doc's (that man has friends everywhere!) to borrow two donkeys for the next leg of journey - we are riding to Bethlehem! Yes, you heard correctly - Bethlehem. Following in the footsteps of Joseph and Mary so many years ago!
We spent the night on the desert last night - it's amazing how quickly the temperature drops once the sun goes down! And the sunset in the desert is simply incredibly - the most awesome colours appear on the palette in the sky - gradations and shades that I never knew existed. To be able to share it all, experience it all with Doc is simply the most wonderful thing. I never knew I could love someone as much as I love him!
Today we are continuing our journey. We only stopped for a quick meal, so I got out my laptop to update my journal. Doc will probably update after me. I'll write more once we are in Bethlethem, later today I think.
Until then, shalom to everyone.